Planners gave the go ahead for a power station at Didcot fired by agricultural oils and waste animal fats - the first of its type in the country.

But the plant will not be built unless it is also approved by the Environment Agency.

South Oxfordshire district councillors were divided over whether to grant permission for the 15 megawatt mini-power station at the Air Products site, at Harrier Park, on the Southmead Industrial Park.

The Tecgen Ltd building would be on the opposite side of the road from the 2,000 megawatt Didcot A power station.

Town council leader Margaret Davies voiced concerns about the visual impact of nine 20 metre high chimney stacks and storage tanks.

The council is also concerned about the increase in lorries transporting oils and fats along the overloaded A34.

But Capt John Flood, a Didcot district councillor, said the proposal represented an ideal partnership with the power station taking its oxygen from Air Products and, in turn, supplying Air Products with all its electricity requirements.

The committee approved the application by 15 votes to four.